For today’s classic song of the day we go back to the folk music scene of the late ’60s and the song “Day is Done” by Peter, Paul and Mary. This song was released as a single in March of 1969 and hit #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.
“Day is Done” was a gentle protest song written by Peter Yarrow. It was inspired by his younger brother, who was facing the possibility of being drafted to serve in Vietnam:
Tell me why you’re crying, my son
I know you’re frightened, like everyone
Is it the thunder in the distance you fear?
Will it help if I stay very near? I am here
And if you take my hand my son
All will be well when the day is done
And if you take my hand my son
All will be well when the day is done
Day is done, day is done, day is done, day is done
The production of the track is interesting. They started with a live performance of the song from a Carnegie Hall concert, then later overdubbed strings and a children’s choir. They released the song as a single and included it as a track on their Peter, Paul and Mommy album, released later in 1969.
“Day is Done” is one of those songs that you can’t help but sing along to. I’ve always been a big Peter, Paul and Mary fan and this is one of my favorite songs of theirs. Admittedly, I wasn’t originally aware that this was an anti-war song; to me, it was a song of hope for the future. All will be well when the day is done, after all. And maybe that’s what makes this such a great song; it is a protest song, of a sort, but one that offers hope, not hate. It’s a good one.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, Peter, Paul and Mary singing “Day is Done” live on the March 23, 1969, episode of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, accompanied by Tom and Dick Smothers, Donovan, and Jennifer Warnes. The entire studio audience gets out of their seats and onto the stage to join along. It’s a powerful piece of television.
